{blackbabes} Venus keeps public guessing on injuries

HONG KONG (AFP) - Five-time Wimbledon champion Venus Williams played her cards close to her chest Friday as she was quizzed about her physical condition ahead of the year's first Grand Slam.

Injury-plagued Williams was seen holding her stomach as she lost to China's Li Na in the Hong Kong Tennis Classic World Team Challenge exhibition tournament, a warm-up for the Australian Open starting January 17.

Asked about the apparent problem in a post-match press conference she appeared to avoid the question, saying: "I just tried my best and just pushed myself to play my best tennis."

Williams, 30, suffered a nagging left knee injury last year, being forced into a long lay-off after losing to eventual champion Kim Clijsters in the US Open semi-finals in September.

She had not played before that since falling in the Wimbledon quarter-finals in June.

Asked how her knee was bearing up, she replied, without elaborating: "I'm okay, thanks."

On court Williams has had a patchy start to her preparations for Melbourne, losing both singles matches in Hong Kong in straight sets.

But she fared significantly better in a close match against Li than she had when she was swept away by Russia's world number two Vera Zvonareva on Thursday and the American said she felt she was improving.

"It was great today to be able to face break points and still win those games and come back from a break and all those things I haven't done in a while," she said.

The world number five, who has been without a Major since winning Wimbledon in 2008, said her goal for 2011 was to get back among the Grand Slam trophies.

"Everyone is focusing on the Majors," she said. "Before my injuries I was number two in the world so… fortunately, I haven't gone that far (down) after that. The only way is up for me."